Serra’s Devin Kirkwood stands by previous commitment to UCLA football

Serra’s Devin Kirkwood opened a lot of eyes earlier this month when he announced he was going to de-commit from UCLA.

However, Wednesday on the first day of the early National Signing Period, Kirkwood confirmed his earlier thinking, recommitting to UCLA.

“I just wanted to sit back and make sure I was making the right decision,” he said. “I decided to open up my recruitment and see what if I was doing was right.

“After watching the game (against USC), I knew that UCLA was somewhere I needed to be. They played their hearts out and with me on the team, I think I could be that game-breaking type of player.”

Kirkwood made his decision official in front of a small ceremony at home and via Zoom, where 100 people were watching.

When he told UCLA that was going to de-commit, he said they were OK with it.

“They were OK, because I told them they were still on top of my board,” Kirkwood said. “I was still staying in contact with them.”

On the other end, the full-court press came from USC, trying to get him to flip his commitment

“There were a lot of people calling me,” he said.

Kirkwood is a four-star athlete and one of the top athletes in the nation, according to 247Sports. He initially committed to UCLA in March, but due wasn’t able to take an official visit due to the quarantine.

“He’s always had great length and early one he had grown so fast, he was just putting it together,” Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. “The last year and half, his speed and athleticism has really exploded.

“I think he can be an elite corner in college. He’s very smart, intelligent and phenomenal athleticism …he’s got the recipe. He’s one of those kids where things haven’t come easy to him at first, he’s had to work hard and now his body has caught up and I think the sky is the limit.”

Not only was Wednesday a big day for his football future, but it was also his final day of high school. He said he’s finished all of his classes after putting in some extra work during the summer.

That extra drive should serve him well as he heads to UCLA and then starts focusing on the next step of his football career.

“I see myself in four or five years in the league and giving back (to my community,” he said. “That’s the type of person that I am. I like giving back and helping out and spreading my way of life to the kids that are younger than me.”

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